Apparatus for practicing golf and other games



Fab. 14,- 1939. A. G. MURDOCH 2,147,105

APPKRATUS FOR PRACTICING GOLF AND OTHER GAMES Filed Jan. 25, 1937 f 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 14, 1939. A. G. MURDOCH 2,1 7,

APPARATUS FOR PRACTICING GOLF AND OTHER GAMES Filed Jan. 25, 1937 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES- APPARATUS FoaPRAoTIeINe -eom OTHER GAMES Alexander Gemmel lMurdocmLondon, England.

Application January 25, 1937, S'rial Nm' 122,281 In -.Great=Britain J anuary25; 1936 l 15Clainis. (01. 2733-45 This: invention relatesto 1 apparatus for practicing golf and other games, of the type includinga suspended ball adapted tolbe struckiby the club. or other: playing. implement and has. for its 5 2 object to. provide such. apparatus .ofcparticularly.

advantageous and efficient form, which. moreover Willlstand iup tothestrain ofrrepeatedfand strenuoususe andi can be.'used.-in .azspace withinthe range f:- the. swing of ta: golf club or other. imple- In .general, according to. the. invention a: cord, cable or other flexible member. isprovided, to

one end of which a golf on otherl ball is;secured.

in: any suitable manner. The: otherx'endsuit- 15 ably connected toa point. of suspension.

In a positionl'between-the point of suspension and: the ball and; a.desir.eclr distance in front of l the flexible member/an impediment is arranged:

, in theiline-of swing. of-the flexible suspending 20 means, so that: whentherball is struck,- the flexible' suspending means',*a'ftermoving, through. a desired angle; contacts with. the impediment. which latter is.-thus-subject=to the effort imparted; thereto by-.'the said suspending means and 25. maybe utilised as ameansfonmeasuring the effort imparteds Thisimpediment maybe fixed or movable and" further if desired, may-- includespring cushioning-means. When movable it maybe suspended somewhat in.th-e=manner of a; pen 30'; dulum. The-employment of .the impediment reduces-the-space-required as in place of the fullswing whichthe-suspended ball would take about the point of suspension, itsmovement is limited and-its anchored flightdiverted; I 5: Additionally a suitable cushioninggor-buffering device is provided, Whichpreferably is movable and arranged to come in the line of flight of the ball; asdiverted" by contact of the flexible suspending means with the impediment. mannernot 'only is the swing. of the'suspended ball limited butalso: its momentum is absorbed, preventing-continued rotation about the. point of suspension or theimpediment and'assuring the immediate-return of the suspended ball to the. striking position.

If required; guiding means may be provided-to limit the possible movement, 7 especially laterally-,1

. of'theflexiblesuspending means.

I Moreover, theimpediment which co-operates with the'flexible suspending means may be'so formed aslt'o' indicate lateral movement or movements of the said suspending means. In other words'tlie impediment itself or a portion thereof" 55 maybe made so to respond to the movements In this of i the flexibly-suspending means that it' indicates thefdirection the ball would'take if free;

Further; ifrrequired; a suitable mirrorz'may be included, arrangedtsothat theplayer taking the strokeman carry out: necessary observations;

All? the. essential. parts" of the: apparatus are suitably: interconnected by axframe'work, base or otherwise; which further" may include "necessary features and if desired; :be made to take apart;

In the general method of 'operatingjhedevice, 10 thee rfreel'y. andi preferably 7 adjustably "suspended ball '(which. latter may just'touchz'the ground orfa mat) afterrbeingqstruck; commences a line ofrfiight ascontrolledt'by the. :point of suspension.

' After a short movemen'tpbut: suflicient for the ball to: leave'the strikingzface of theimplement, the :flexiblessuspending means contacts with theimpediment. This-.divertsthe'line of flight and the" ball vswirigss upwardly;- until? it hits against thecushioning-ior'buffering-means; after which 29 theaball'falls andis-returned to the original positionidue? to the action of the flexible suspend ing means;

Many forms of apparatus may be-provided in accordancerwith theinvention but-inaorder that the invention-.may be better: understood, it- Will now be: described with reference to 1 the accompanyingdrawings,-,which. show one embodiment: and in which:-

Fig. 1 is afrontelevation, 30

Fig. 2 aside-view of Fig. 1,

Fig. 3a similar view-to. Fig. 1 but of the upper portion-0f the. apparatus;

Fig. 4-'a ..f'ragmentary plan view to a larger. scale, taken in the direction. of the arrow 4, Fig. 1,.and.

Figs. 5 'and fidetails hereafter referred to.

Fig. 7 shows a fragmentary perspective view of. anaddition .or modification.

Figs. 8. and.9'show a. further modification in front and Tside elevation, to. be hereafter re.- ferred to.'.

lnthe drawings, I is-a.base.plate of .a suitable material, for example a.-casting,. ply-wood. or otherwise, which has disposed. thereon a mat or the like- 8 and-whichtowards therear edge atone corner has securedthereto afoot or pediment 9, forexample in the form.of acasting to which astandard comprisediby metaltubes, flanged at the base, issecured by nuts-and' bolts I 0, the 5 standard. comprising :a lower section. I l detachably. jointedat l2.-to an upper. section l3, .the latter havingabent-round. horizontally extending portion lf'atithe top.

The portion l4 has-rearwardly and slightly downwardly extending therefrom an arm 15 terminating in a socket 16 having adjustably positioned therein a tube I1 screw threaded on the exterior and held in any suitable adjusted position in the socket l6 by serrated nuts I8. Through the hollow interior of the tube l1 freely passes the upper end of a flexible member l9 secured at the upper end to a projecting washer or button 2. The lower end of the flexible member l9 has secured thereto a golf ball 2| and it will be understood by adjusting the position of the nuts [8, this ball can be brought into the correct position with relation to the surface of the mat 8.

Towards the lower end of the portion l3 of the standard a horizontally projecting tubular arm 22 is provided attached to a T socket 23.

This tubular arm 22 is of desired length and at the outer end has mounted to turn thereon the boss 24 of a downwardly extending pendulumlike mass 25 forming the main impediment. This mass is of somewhat cylindrical form and towards the front from the boss 24 has extending a lug or arm 26 for the pivotal attachment of a supplementary impediment 21 hereafter referred to. This supplementary impediment forms a portion of the -main impediment and moves therewith but is capable of additional and separate movements as hereafter explained.

The outer end of the boss 24 is closed at 28 and has passing therethrough a headed spindle 29. This also passes through the interior of the tube 22 and through aligned apertures in the portion l3 of the'standard and carries at the other end a lever or lug 30.

The construction is such that when the impediment 25 swings on the arm 22, the spindle 29 moves therewith to cause the lever or lug 30 to be moved through the same angle. 3| is a quadrant having an indicating pointer 32 working thereover, the centre of rotation being in a line with the axis of the spindle 29. A pin 33 on the pointer 32 comes in the path of the lever 30 so that on the movement of the impediment 25 the pointer 32 is moved through the same angular distance. The mounting of this pointer 32 is such that it is retained in any position to which it is moved by friction. Moreover, such mounting permits the ready re-setting to zero.

The impediment 25 has a metal loop 34 extending rearwardly thereof through which the flexible member l9 passes. As will be appreciated'from Figs. 1 and 2, this loop 34 acts to some extent as a guide to the said flexible member and also tends to limit lateral movement thereof.

The portion 14 of the standard also serves for the suspension of a buffering device. This comprises a pad or bag 35 of suitable material or materials suspended by straps or the like 36 from the portion l3. In some forms the pad or bag may comprise an inner thickness (such as a mat) of cocoanut fibre or the like enclosed in a fabric or other outer casing. It, however, may be made of any suitable material.

In operation of the device, thus far as described, when the ball 2| is struck by an implement or'the like, it first of all passes to the position of the flexible member [9 shownin dotted lines in Fig. 1, that is to say the said flexible member contacts with the surface of the impediment 29. This diverts the line of flight and the ball swings upwardly until it hits against the cushioning or buffering means 35. This, however, (according to the force of the blow) causes the impediment 25 to swing through a certain angle about the end of the arm 22 and thus through the movement of the pointer 32 an indication of the probable flight of the ball (were it free) is given on the quadrant 3!.

After this the ball falls back into the original position and the pointer 32 can be re-set to zero.

It will be appreciated if the ball were free to move about its point of suspension without the employment of an impediment in the path of the flexible suspending member, it would fly outwards to the full radius of the flexible suspending member. As, however, the impediment is employed, after the ball has left the club face, the flexible suspending member contacts with the impediment and diverts the flight. Thus the space in which the apparatus can be used is greatly lessened.

It should be realised that the relative dimensions of the parts are such that the ball when struck-by the club has left the club face before the flexible member I9 contacts with the impediment 25.

Normally the face of the club travels in contact with the ball for a short distance of a few inches and preferably, according to the invention, the flexible member l9 does not contact with the impediment 25 until after the ball has moved a still further distance away from its normal position. Thus it is assured that the ball is entirely free from the club face and consequently only the momentum etc. acquired by the ball due to thestroke, affects the impediment 25 through the flexible member [9.

As will be realised, although the normal direc-- tion of flight when struck by the implement will be due to a blow in the direction of the arrow 31 (Fig. 1), yet if the ball is mishit the direction may be to one side or the other.

To obtain an indication of the degree to one sideor the other in which the direction is off the true direction, the impediment 25 may be so constructed that a reading may be obtained.

In the drawings this is accomplished by the supplementary impediment 21 which in the example shown is comprised by a sheet metal cylinder bent with lugs as shown in Figs. 1 and 4 for connection by means of a pivot 38 to the lug 26 with a desired degree of friction.

Thus, if when the ball is hit the direction of flight is correct, the flexible suspending member contacts with the supplementary impediment 21 in the position generally indicated by the arrow 39 in Fig. 4. This would have no effect and would not turn the supplementary impediment 21 on its axis 38.

Should, however, the ball not be on the true line of flight but to one side thereof, then, for example, the flexible member l9 might contact with the supplementary impediment 21 in the position indicated by the dotted arrow 40 (Fig. 4) Consequently the stress in the said flexible member would have the eflect of turning the supplementary impediment 21 on its axis 38, say to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4.

A pointer 4! can be included in the structure working over a scale 42 so that according to the degree the ball is off the normal direction (to one side or the other) so the supplementary impediment 21 is moved.

The friction in the assembly of the axis 38 is such that some desired degree of resistance is imposed to the movement on its axis of this supplementary impediment 21. Further, such friction is suflicient to retain the said supplementary impediment 21 in its thus-moved position, so

that when the impediment- 25 comes to rest,- the position to which'- the supplementary impediment 2-1 has =-been I moved would indicate the directioriz Obviously}. this supplementary impediment Z'I can readily be re=set to. thezero position.

Fig. 3 shows the position where the ball 2| after" being struck contacts with the pad 35' and alsoillustrates how the mas's of the impediment 1s moved under the actionof the flexible member 19, 1 also howthe said flexible member l9 wraps itself around the impediment 25 and contacts with thesupplementary impediment 21,

finally-to'contactwith the pad before fallingback to-its rest position.

In -place of the. supplementary impediment such as"-.-disclosed-,- other m'eans may be utilised to-record or indicate the-lateral diversion of the flight oi the ball: that would have taken-place were'the ball free. For example, the main im pediment as well-asbeingpivoted to turn about a swinging flight, to surmount.

in place of the ball being hit to swing normally normally comes 1-bit upwardly to clear this obstruction.

a horizontal axis, could-alsoturn about avertical axis or another axis at right angles to the normal-horizontal axisi The degree of turn about this extra axis could be indicated.

To enable thestriker' to carry out necessary observationsia'n angularlydisposed mirror 13 (of desired form) adjustably may be mountedin connection with the base-1. Further, to prevent .theflexible member 19 beingdamaged by the striking implement, should the said member be mishit above the ball 21 in placeof the said ball,-there may be located on this flexible member in a position above the ball a sleeve 44 (indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2) of resilient material. This sleeve may be fixed thereon or movable thereon as desired.

Fig. 7- shows a perspective view of the end or' ,full-line. position shown in Fig. 7. In this position it forms an impediment for the ball in its In other words,

about the point of suspension, the ball must be It is thus somewhat in the nature of a shot equivalent to that which must be taken for getting out of-a bunker, etc.

Obviously where required this member 5| may be made to have a variable or adjustable vertical height.

To eliminate, or lessen, any frictional drag there may be on the flexible suspending member l9, by the actionof the impediment 25 when this latter iscaused-to swing about its axis, the

portion of the impediment against which the cord contacts may be made to turn about an axis. Such a construction is shown in Figs. 8 and9 where 25 is the portion of the impediment made to turn about its axis. Thus when the flexible suspending member contacts with the impediment, by the swing of this latter its thus axially mounted portion may move about its centre of' rotation, stillacting as the impediment-and diverting member, to eliminate wholly or to -ailarge extent any frictional slip between the flexiblei suspending member and the=suspended impediment.

In" some; cases, in: place' of the quadrant 3'! and thetpointer32 for'indicating the probable length of the stroke, thesevmay.be replaced by anaggregateindicating device. Such aggregate indicating device may, for example, succesively; add'the angles of stroke and may be associated with the layoutof the golf course'or otherwise whereby'the lengths to different bunkers or the likein relation tothe length ofthe stroke, or successive :strok'es; may readily beindicated.

One such device is disclosed in Fig. 5-where a' somewhatspiral-like courseis indicated extending from A- to-B. This extends, aswill be seenyfor about three'complete revolutions and on the spindle--of the indicator isarranged a pointer 46-is a hand-set lever on the same spindle as the-indicator having anarm 41 con tacting with a fixed stop 48. If desired the arm 4? could also be furnished with a-pointer and in operation," through theaction of the lever dB, the arm 4l-can .be setback to contact with A8 after each strokeif the pointer 45 isheld. Thus, after the-first'stroke, onthe re-settingof the -parts; the-position could-be as indicated in Fig. 5.- On the nextstroke, the-pointer= 45 and thearm 47 areboth-moved round through the angular distance-due tothesaidstroke. Thereupon upon holding the pointer 45, the lever 46 could be againsetback to contact with the stop 8 and.-so on.

Thus to play a gamethe distance to the next hazard: could be calculated and the power of the stroke varied for the purpose. .Finally, as will be realised, the accumulative result of ;a series of strokes could be taken to represent-the action of play on a golfcourse.

The flexible member Hi can be constructed in any suitable. manner. It-may; be-formed from a-suitable-cord or cords, rope or ropes, metallic chain or chains;multi-stranded-metallic cable,

or any suitable combination thereof to secure the desired results. The actual attachment to the ball can'be as required but in a preferred form the-attachment of the lowerend is by the flexible" member which canbe-doubled and located intwo adjacent passages-through the ball 2|, as indicated in Fig. 6

If the 'flexi'blersuspending member is multi-- stranded; or of other twisted or helical formation onthe: exterior, its grip in the passages through the ball is enhanced. v

Althoughthe invention has. been particularly described in connection with an impediment capable of' movement,- yet the impedimentmay be fixed to cause the necessary diversion in the flight of the ball or the like. In this case, or' in the casepreviously described, or in any case, expansive; extensible or other means may be included in orprovided in conjunction with the flexible suspending-memberor'the mounting of said flexible member beiof suchnature that resiliencev is" imparted to the connection; permitting any necessary movement.

Such resilience, or the degree thereof, may be indicatable and constitute a measure of the power of the stroke.

Again, where required the mounting on the flexible suspendingmember or the said'flexible member itself may include resilient means to permit any necessary stretch. Similarly, the actual mounting or the point ofsuspension may bemade of a movablenature:

The invention is not limited to the precise forms or details of construction described, as these may be varied to suit particular cases.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States of America is:

1. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, an impediment mounted to move on said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically.

2. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent the base, an impediment formed and disposed to act as a pendulum mounted on a horizontal axle attached to said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically.

3. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, an impediment mounted to move on said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically, said impediment being arranged in front of the flexible ball-suspending member in such a position that the said flexible ball-suspending member only contacts with the impediment after the suspended ball leaves the striking face of the club.

4. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, an impediment mounted. to move on said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically, said impediment being ar-' ranged in front of the flexible ball-suspending member in such a position that the said flexible ball-suspending member only contacts with the impediment after the suspended ball leaves the striking face of the club and means provided in conjunction with said impediment for indicating the strength of the blow.

5. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a sup-port, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, an impediment mounted to move on said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically, said impediment being arranged in front of the flexible ball-suspending member in such a position that the said flexible ball-suspending member only contacts with the impediment after the suspended ball leaves the striking face of the club and means provided in conjunction with the impediment for indicating the strength of the blow on an indicator operatively connected with the movable impediment.

6. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, an impediment mounted to move on said support in a position much nearer to the base than to the upper end of the flexible ball-suspending member and located to come in the path of the swing of the flexible ball-suspending member when the ball is struck but spaced a substantial distance in front of said flexible ball-suspending member when it is hanging vertically, an absorbing means attached to the support and located to receive and absorb the blow of the diverted ball subsequent to its diversion and upward movement due to the impediment, the parts being of such character and so disposed that the ball is left free automatically to return to the starting position.

7. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball attached to the lower end of said ball-suspending member, an impediment mounted to move on said support to indicate how hard the ball is hit, said impediment having means operatively connected thereto and moving therewith when contacted by the ballsuspending member to indicate the lateral diversion of the ball after it has been struck.

8. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball attached to the lower end of said ball-suspending member and a main impediment mounted to move on said support to indicate how hard the ball is hit, said main im- 9. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspendedvertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball attached to the lower end of said ball-suspending member, an impediment mounted to move on said support to indicate how hard the ball is hit, saidimpediment having means operatively connected thereto and moving therewith when contacted by the ballsuspending member to indicate the lateral diversion of the ball after it has been struck, said last named means consisting of a supplementary impediment pivotally attached to the main impediment which is influenced by the ball-suspending member according to whether it comes to one side or the other of its pivot, and means to indicate the degree of movement of'the supplementary impediment.

10. Apparatus for practicing golf of the kind having a ball suspended vertically from a fixed point and adapted to be struck by a club, comprising a support, a base carrying said support, a flexible ball-suspending member fixed at its upper end to the support, a golf ball fixed to the lower end of the flexible ball-suspending member and coming adjacent to the base, means to adjust the effective length of said flexible ballsuspending member, a delayed-action impediment mounted to move on said support upon being engaged by said flexible-ball suspending member after the ball has been struck, means to guide said flexible-ball suspending member to said impediment, and means cooperating with said impediment for indicating the strength of the blow.

11. In apparatus for practicing golf, a stationary support, a flexible ball-suspending member, means immovably securing the upper end of said ball-suspending member to said support, a golf ball secured to the lower end of said ball-suspending member and located adjacent the bottom of said support in position to be struck by the club of a player, a pendulous impediment mounted on said support at a level intermediate the ends of said ball-suspending member and spaced a substantial distance horizontally in front of the ballsuspending member when hanging vertically, by virtue of which the initial movement of the struck ball will be uninterrupted for a short interval while the ball-suspending member passes the space between its vertical position and that occupied by said impediment, for purposes described.

12. In apparatus for practicing golf, a stationary support, a flexible ball-suspending member, means immovably securing the upper end of said ball-suspending member to said support, a golf ball secured to the lower end of said ballsuspending member and located adjacent the bottom of said support in position to be struck by the club of a player, a pendulous impediment mounted on said support at a level intermediate the ends of said ball-suspending member and spaced a substantial distance horizontally in front of the ball-suspending member when hanging vertically, by virtue of which the initial movement of the struck ball will be uninterrupted for a short interval while the ball-suspending member passes the space between its vertical position and that occupied by said impediment, and means cooperating with said impediment for indicating the movement of the impediment imparted to it by the contact and action of the flexible ball-suspending member.

13. In apparatus for practicing golf, a station ary support, a flexible ball-suspending member, means'immovably securing the upper end of said ball-suspending member to said support, a golf ball secured to the lower end of said ball-suspending member and located adjacent the bottom of said support in position to be struck by the club of a player, a pendulous impediment mounted on' said support at a level intermediate the ends of said ball-suspending member and spaced a substantial distance horizontally in front of the ballsuspending member when hanging vertically, by virtue of which the initial movement of the struck ball will be uninterrupted for a short interval while the ball-suspending member passes the space between its vertical position and that occupied by said impediment, and an indicator for indicating the degree of movement of said impediment.

14. In apparatus for practicing golf, a stationary support, a flexible ball-suspending member, means immovably securing the upper end of said ballsuspending member to said support, a golf ball secured to the lower end of said ball-suspending member and located adjacent the bottom of said support in position to be struck by the club of a player, a pendulous impediment mounted on said support at a level intermediate the ends of said ball-suspending member and spaced a substantial distance horizontally in front of the ballsuspending member when hanging'vertically, by virtue of which the initial movement of the struck ball will be uninterrupted for a short interval while the ball-suspending member passes the space between its vertical position and that 00- cupied by said impediment, and a cushion mounted on said support above said impediment and free thereof so that after the ball strikes said cushion it will be returned by gravity to its starting position.

15. In apparatus for practicing golf, a stationary support, a flexible ball-suspending member, means immovably securing the upper end of said ball-suspending member to said support, a golf ball secured to the lower end of said ball-suspending member and located adjacent the bottom of said support in position to be struck by the club of a player, a pendulous impediment mounted on said support at a level intermediate the ends of said ball-suspending member and spaced a substantial distance horizontally in front of the ballsuspending member when hanging vertically, by virtue of which the initial movement of the struck ball will be uninterrupted for a short interval while the ball-suspending member passes the space between its vertical position and that occupied by said impediment, an indicator for indicating the degree of movement of said impediment, and a cushion mounted on said support above said impediment and free thereof so that after the ball strikes said cushion it will be returned by gravity to its starting position. 

